Aero

IGN has a big preview up now, with more screens. There are more than what's being posted, like a few more diva shots and some Orton/Cena.

Along with the big four, we'll probably get four more... Edge vs. Jericho (IC Title) John Cena vs. Booker T (US Title) La Rez vs. Rhyno & Tajiri (World Tag Titles) Rey vs. Chavo vs. Spike vs. Noble (Cruiserweight Title) Then, maybe stick RVD, Kidman & London vs. Dudleys & Rene Dupree on Heat or even on the PPV. I could actually see them going with a Ladder match for Cena-Booker T, if they are planning to copy the HBK-Razor feud from 94. Booker T has the belt, and now you just need Cena to get a "bogus" one. I wouldn't care either way, ladder match or normal match, because I wasn't too impressed with the Smackdown match.

First of all, I'll point out that it's FEUD, not fued. But it's definitely my favorite feud of all time. It had two of the greatest WWF matches of all time, if not the greatest. WM 13 match was voted best match in Polls/Lists. As much as I loved Bret, I could never hate Austin, because he was the cool heel. Their WM 13 match is my favorite of all time.

I would have them go about 3 falls each for a tie, with about a few minutes left. Have Benoit keep locking in the Crossface after every move HHH attempts, but HHH keeps getting the ropes. Finally, with about 30 seconds or so left, one more Crossface, and HHH either taps out from too much pain or passes out, giving Benoit the win.

1. Jericho/Benoit vs. HHH/Austin - May 01 RAW 16. Midnight Express vs. Ric Flair/Barry Windham (Clash of the Champions IV), 8. Raven/Saturn vs Malenko/Benoit (Horseman) - Spring Stampede 99 24. Hart Foundation vs Demolition - SummerSlam 90 29. Team USA vs Hart Foundation - Canadian Stampede 20. Flair/Ramon vs Savage/Perfect - Survivor Series 92 5. Owen/Bulldog vs Michaels/Austin - Raw 1997 21. Steiner Brothers vs. Money Inc - Cage Match, August 93 30. Hardy's vs Dudleys - Royal Rumble 2000 14. Bulldog & Owen vs. Furnas & LaFon (IYH: Final Four) 6. Shawn Michaels/Deisel vs Ramon/123 Kid - 1994 Action Zone 11. Steiners vs Bret/Owen Hart - Wrestlefest 94 2. Edge/Rey vs Benoit/ Angle- No Mercy 15. TWGTT vs. Eddie Guerrero & Tajiri (Smackdown, May 22 03) 7. Edge/Rey vs Benoit/Angle vs 2 out of 3 falls, Smackdown Nov. 02 10. TWGTT vs. Mysterio & Kidman (Vengeance 2003),

I actually didn't mind it when Stephanie was the face GM, until about spring 2003 when the whole Zach Gowen-Vince storyline started. I wouldn't mind seeing either Shane or Stephanie back as face GMs. It's better than the usual evil GM.

Sooner or later, I'd like to see Coliseum type DVDs released with just random matches from all the TV shows, within reason of course. Just put on some of the better TV matches, like Noble-London from Velocity, or HBK-Benoit from Raw, or even house show matches.

I think that will be on a future Triple H DVD. It might, but that match basically made both of their careers, I think. Even though HHH won, I see it more of a Rock match seeing as how Rock was on the offensive most of the match. HHH only won from cheap interference from Chyna.

I think they'll just do another Elimination Chamber with HHH winning the belt, and then they'll move on to HHH vs. Edge for Unforgiven, which I think is a RAW PPV.

Why? I haven't seen any of his ROH stuff, but apparently it's really good. Here's how my Rock DVD would go. These are just some of the matches I would put on among others that aren't that rare like Rock-Hogan. - Survivor Series 96 match - vs. Austin (DX: IYH) - vs. HHH, Ladder Match (Summerslam 98) - Triple Threat Cage (Breakdown) - vs. Austin (RAW, 11/16/98) - vs. Angle (No Way Out 01) - vs. Eddie (RAW, 7/22/02) Add in some of his promos from Dec. 1997 through late 1998 such as Austin forfeiting the IC Title, kicking Faarooq out of the Nation, his interview the night after Survivor Series 98, and maybe some Hurricane promos.

2004 Royal Rumble Match January 25, 2004 Wachovia Center Philadelphia, PA Commentators: JR & Tazz Background: It's the second Royal Rumble during the brand extension, meaning 15 RAW guys, 15 Smackdown guys. Usually, Rumbles have only a few key main event wrestlers who have a chance of winning, if not just one obvious wrestler who will win (Shawn Michaels in 1996, Steve Austin in 1998, The Rock in 2000). RAW had a heavy favorite in Goldberg, as well as longshots like Chris Jericho, Rob Van Dam, Randy Orton, Booker T, and Kane. Smackdown had three favorites in Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit, and John Cena, with a longshot in the Big Show. The previous week on RAW, there was a battle royal to determine who gets to enter at # 30 in the match. Obviously regarded as the biggest advantage in the match by WWE, but the fans, mostly smarks, think of it as an automatic loss. However, when Brock Lesnar entered at # 29 at the 2003 Royal Rumble and went on to win, it got some thinking that Goldberg could actually win. Another one of RAW's feuds heading in was between non-active wrestler Mick Foley and Randy Orton. The night after Armageddon 2003, Foley was set to face Orton for the Intercontinental Title. If Foley lost, then he would lose his Co-GM spot and would be fired. At the last second, Foley walked out on the match, and Orton spit in his face. For a month, Orton and the world called Foley a coward. Co-GM Steve Austin invited Foley to the Royal Rumble tonight with a front row seat saved for him. The empty seat is shown several times during the PPV. Smackdown's key storyline heading into the Rumble was a feud between General Manager Paul Heyman and Chris Benoit. In early December 2003, Benoit was granted a title shot against WWE Champion, Brock Lesnar. Benoit nearly won the match several times, but in the end, Brock attacked Benoit's knee with a chair, and Benoit submitted after the "Brock Lock". Apparently sensing a threat to Brock's title reign, Heyman tells Benoit that he will never get another shot at the title again. In other words, Benoit's last oppurtunity is to win the Royal Rumble, if he could get in. John Cena, another enemy of Heyman, is given the oppurtunity to gain entry to the Rumble by facing the FBI in a 2-on-3 handicap match with a partner of his choosing. He chooses Benoit, and together, they beat the FBI and are in the Rumble. When Benoit gloats about it being in the Rumble, Heyman enters him at # 1. Meanwhile, Kurt Angle guarantees a Rumble win and dedicates it to the US forces in Iraq. It should be noted that Angle was actually playing the face role heading into the Rumble, but there were signs of his heel turn later in February. He had been getting involved in the Eddie-Chavo Guerrero feud, and he encouraged Eddie to face Chavo at the Rumble, seemingly only to remove Eddie, a possible threat, from the Rumble match. The Match: Just to note, me and my brother are in the front row, to the side of the commentary tables. As Chris Benoit comes out as # 1, the camera zooms to our sign, "BENOIT IS GOING TO WMXX". What made it even cooler was that they showed it again in the video package for the Triple Threat World Title match at Wrestlemania XX. # 2 is RAW's Intercontinental Champion, Randy Orton. Just about everyone compares Orton's push to The Rock's from 1997. In the 1998 Royal Rumble, the then-Intercontinental Champion, Rock, lasted from # 4 all the way to the end, being eliminated last by Austin. When Orton came out as # 2 and lasted up until # 21, I got a Rocky vibe from it. The first half of the match establishes Benoit and Orton as the serious contenders to win, as if they already weren't. Both eliminate a number of guys. Benoit's first elimination comes when Bradshaw, still in the APA, enters the ring and immediately hits Orton, Mark Henry, and Tajiri with Clotheslines from Hell. When Bradshaw attempts it on Benoit, it's countered into the Crossface. Bradshaw powers out and nearly throws him out, but Benoit holds on and tosses our current WWE Champion out with his own momentum to cheers from the crowd. Within minutes, as Mark Henry staggers near the ropes, Benoit charges and shoulderblocks Henry out to the floor. Other notable eliminations in the first half by Benoit include Matt Morgan, Rhyno, and A-Train. While not a major part of the match at all, you can't overlook the mat sequence by Randy Orton and Scott Steiner. While The Hurricane is being eliminated by Matt Morgan, Steiner lays on top of Orton for a little over a minute in a number of positions. It looks like they're having some gay sex in the middle of the match. Quite disturbing. One of the more memorable moments from the match occur when Kane enters at # 12. He immediately cleans house, chokeslamming and taking down everyone in the ring, but not eliminating anyone. When the countdown for the next entrant stops, the lights go out and Undertaker's familiar gong sounds throughout the arena. The crowd goes balistic. I remember marking out, there live. I'll note that the gong fittingly goes off at # 13. Kane freaks out, screaming, "I buried you alive!" as he did at Survivor Series 2003. The distraction allows Booker T to come from behind and toss him out. Immediately after the elimination, Spike Dudley, who Kane destroyed the previous week on RAW, officially enters as # 13, but is unable to compete after a chokeslam by Kane on the ramp. Randy Orton's first elimination of the night is Rikishi, and he follows up by throwing Booker T out. After each elimination, you see the same cocky smurk or Orton's face. As Benoit was fighting and eliminating A-Train, Orton fought Shelton Benjamin. He ducks a superkick, which lands Benjamin on the top rope, and easily tosses him out. The only lowlight of the match I see happens when Orton and Benoit, alone in the ring, both knock heads and fall to the mat. # 18, Ernest Miller enters with the introduction by Lamont. Miller runs into the ring and just dances along with Lamont to ZERO crowd reaction. Benoit unofficially eliminates Lamont, although his afro goes first, while Orton throws Miller out. The match commences as Kurt Angle enters at # 19. Angle immediately goes after his long-time enemy, Benoit, and they trade suplexes. Meanwhile, Orton takes a breather sitting down in the corner of the ring. Angle actually glances over at Orton, who's basically sitting back and watching the match between the two. He obviously wants no part in the match at this point. This helps in adding to Orton's cocky character. When Rico enters next as # 20, he's gone before the next entrant, as Orton RKOs him and easily eliminates him. One of the most exciting parts of the match happens when Test, that's right, TEST, is set to enter as # 21. His music sounds throughout the arena, but no Test to be seen. Cameras take you backstage where apparently he's been knocked unconsious. Co-GM Steve Austin yells at the assailant (unable to be seen) and declares that he's # 21 since Test can't make it out. It should be noted that the live crowd didn't see the backstage footage on the Titantron. Back to the ring, you hear the screeching of car tires blare throughout the arena, and out comes Mick Foley to a monstrous ovation! Orton looks like he's seen a ghost. Foley runs in and trades blows with him. He knocks Orton toward the ropes and follows up with a Cactus Clothesline to eliminate both him and Orton! The fight continues outside the ring, as Foley chokes Orton with a cord. At that point, you can see my "Where's Steve Blackman?" sign pop up in the distance. They fight up the ramp, where Foley takes out Socko. While all this happens, Nunzio comes down the same ramp as # 23 and gets a Mandible Claw for his troubles. Wrong place at the wrong time. This allows, Orton to kick Foley low and escape. Nunzio, by the way, doesn't enter the match for another few minutes as he hides crouched down in the corner of the guardrail outside. With Benoit, Angle, Christian, and Nunzio (outside) in the match, the Big Show enters at # 24. Tazz establishes that he is indeed his pick to win. Big Show was booked tremendously in 2003 on Smackdown as a monster, and this match continues that booking after his horrible run as US Champion. I'll elaborate more, later on. After Big Show, the bigger stars begin to enter: Chris Jericho, John Cena, Rob Van Dam, and of course, Goldberg as # 30. Charlie Haas, Billy Gunn, and Nunzio, who was forced to enter the ring by John Cena, are all just in there this late to be eliminated by Goldberg's monster run. They all go as soon as Goldberg enters. Earlier in the night, Smackdown's WWE Champion, Brock Lesnar, interrupted a Goldberg interview and was made a fool by him. As Goldberg sets up Big Show for a Jackhammer, Brock runs into the ring and F-5's Goldberg as retaliation. Goldberg is quick to get up, but the distraction allows Kurt Angle to eliminate him from behind (his only elimination). That leaves Benoit, Cena, Angle, RVD, Jericho, and Big Show. At that point, everyone has inadvertently banded together against Show. Jericho hits him with a Lionsault, RVD with the Five-Star Frog Splash, Cena with the Five-Knuckle Shuffle, and Benoit with the Diving Headbutt. Before any fighting commences, Angle leads an attempt to throw Show out. They all try to pick him up but are unsuccessful. While a great idea in theory, it's hard to believe that five guys can't pick him up when we've seen Cena, among others, FU Show several times before and after this. Big Show fights back and quickly tosses Cena and RVD. That leaves one hell of a Final Four: Big Show, Benoit, Jericho, and Angle. With both Benoit and Angle down, Jericho keeps coming back at Show despite being thrown away many times. He hits a bulldog off the top rope and locks in the Walls. After Angle takes him down, Jericho is eliminated when Show chokeslams him over the top and to the floor. Angle gives both Benoit and Show an Angle Slam and polls the crowd on who gets an Ankle Lock. Show is chosen, and he fights to the ropes screaming in agony. Show manages to climb over the top rope, and using his own weight, he falls over to the apron and pulls Angle over and to the floor, leaving only two. Benoit has been in over an hour and is alone against the monster Big Show, that not five guys could eliminate together just minutes before. After an unsuccessful Crossface, Show chokeslams him and tells him, "It's all over son." Odd thing to say, considering how much older Benoit is than Show. Show lifts Benoit over his head in a gorilla press slam position, and he walks toward the ropes to throw him out. Benoit tries to fight out and ends up hanging on to Show's head with a guillotine choke. He placed over the top, but he hangs on to the bottom rope with his legs. As Benoit keeps tugging on his head, Show begins teetering on the top rope. The crowd comes alive, as finally, Show falls right over and to the floor, giving Benoit the win at 61:38! Analysis: For years I, along with everyone else, said that the 1992 Royal Rumble was the best. After seeing the 2004 Rumble live and in person, I have a new favorite. It's not just the live factor for me either, because I've watched the Rumble on tape many times since then and still love it. Many have complained that Benoit wasn't the focus of the match in the middle portion like he should have been. I disagree with that for a number of reasons. JR & Tazz were always mentioning Benoit, updating us on his times constantly, and he always had an elimination here and there, up until Angle came in. He did lose more of the focus from then on, but the match isn't only Benoit's match. We saw the beginning of Undertaker's return as the gong sounded and had every fan in the place marking out. The Foley-Orton feud was furthered in a big way with the elimination and brawl outside. Then, guys like Big Show, Jericho, Cena, RVD, and Goldberg all entered. Minus Big Show, every one of them is very popular and couldn't be ignored. Considering that WWE actually had Benoit last over an hour in a Royal Rumble and winning it, I wouldn't be complaining about camera time. Even though the Big Show story in the match is so simple, it worked brilliantly with Benoit's struggle to win. Five of WWE's best wrestlers joined forces to try and eliminate Show, but they weren't able to. Even after taking four finishers from them, Big Show still managed to eliminate everyone except for Benoit. Show's elimination by Benoit was smartly executed and was very believable. Sure, Show was eliminated in the past years by a Rock clothesline and Kane picking him up and dropping him over the top, but Benoit was smart enough to figure out a way to eliminate the monster in desperation of trying to escape Show eliminating him. I call this Rumble one of the best, if not THE best Rumble. It's hard to give Royal Rumbles star ratings, but if I were putting it on a separate Rumble scale from other matches, I'd give it *****. After the Show Went off the Air: Benoit celebrated for another minute or so, and Steve Austin came out. He toasted Benoit and called him "one tough son of a bitch". Benoit gave a victory speech and basically said that winning the Rumble was one of the major steps in his career. They drank a few more beers. Throughout the entire celebration, me and my brother held up our Benoit signs. When Benoit was on the top rope, he actually did acknowledge us by pointing. The whole celebration was a great moment, and I wish it makes it onto a DVD sooner or later. It's too bad it's not on Benoit's upcoming DVD.

Gamespot has a long preview up right now, along with a 6 minute video interview. They make the game sound really good. I might actually buy it. I'm just disappointed about the lack of new matches. It sounds like all the matches from WM X8 and WM XIX except with Bra & Panties. I am excited about Bret Hart being in, though. Here's the preview...

Classic Big Gold or the new one with the WWE logo on it? New WWE version. I like the shine of the WWE version more, and I believe the WWE version has the curved plates, unlike the classic.

I started playing this again last week. So, I'm in season with Goldberg, and after winning the World Title right away at Backlash, Steven Richards begs Vince McMahon for a title shot, which he gets. If he loses, he's fired. I couldn't let the guy be out of a job, so I jobbed the World Title to Steven Richards. He won it at Judgment Day and actually went to Vengeance with the belt until I took it back. I squashed him in about a minute.

It's a tie between the World Heavyweight and IC Title for me. I plan on buying a replica of one or the other sooner or later. I'm leaning towards getting the big gold belt.

I'll second Walter Peck in Ghostbusters. I hated Taggart in Beverly Hills Cop, up until he "turns face" and joins Foley & Rosewood in sneaking into the mansion.

And we all know how that worked out... (Bombastic) Bob Holly & (Bodacious) Bart Gunn! Wasn't Cornette actually pissed about the whole New Midnight Express angle or something?

1. Die Hard 2. Clue 3. Raiders of the Lost Ark 4. Ghostbusters 5. Die Hard: With a Vengeance Not the best by any means but my favorites nevertheless.

I work at a KB Toys, and we have all of them, including the next series which is basically repaints of those, and Quick Man~!

It can't be $400 just for the PSP. I hope it's for a package deal with the PSP, a few games, and maybe some accessories. Still though, $400 is too expensive, considering that's what the Gamecube package (Gamecube, three games, memory card, extra controller) cost on launch-day when I bought that.

A week has gone by, and that's the end of the tournament. Here are the results... Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin (WM13) def. Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio (Halloween Havoc 97) 20-13 Hooray!

After two weeks, more or less for the last round, it seemed like no one else was going to tally up the votes, so I did it. Here's Round 5 results... Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin (WM 13) (25 votes) def. The Rock vs. Steve Austin (WM X7) (11 votes) Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio, Jr. (Halloween Havoc '97) (19 votes) def. Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin (Survivor Series '96) (17 votes) Here's the final... Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin (WM 13) ~VS~ Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio, Jr. (Halloween Havoc '97) Vote away.

I just watched HBK-HHH HIAC today, and all I can say is wow. I can't remember ever being so bored watching a match. I actually fell asleep within the first 10 minutes. I'd say you were right on the money with your review of the match. I wouldn't go any higher than **.

For my card, I'd keep pretty much the same matches (World Title, both Tag Title matches), but I'd maybe make a few changes. Most of the Raw matches seem obvious, except for the IC Title match. I have no desire to see an Edge-Orton rematch, and they already gave away Batista in a 20-minute match on Raw last week. Then there's Jericho. Rather than split these four up in singles matches, put them together for a 4-Way Elimination Match. You'd think HBK-Kane would be a sure-bet, but I don't see HBK returning before Summerslam. If they want to continue with a good build, he should return next week. Unless HBK comes back, I have no clue what to do with Kane, unless they want a Matt Hardy rematch. The Smackdown matches seem alot less predictable, except for Eddie vs. Angle. The whole Undertaker storyline is rediculous, especially when he hasn't been on TV for three weeks, except for a pre-recorded threat to Heyman. It's rumored to be JBL defending against Taker, so I guess Taker gets the No. 1 Contendership in his next RARE TV appearance next week (as Michael Cole calls them). We still don't know what'll happen with the US Title. Tournament? Goes back to Cena? At the end of Smackdown, Cole and Tazz were saying how Angle screwed himself as GM by being unmasked, so this will likely play a part in Cena's stripping of the US Title. Maybe the board of directors just give the title back, or give Cena a rematch. It seems odd to have a Cena-Angle feud build for months, and then switch right back to Angle-Eddie. Maybe, the point of stripping Cena of the US Title is too just remove Cena from the mid-card and officially bring him into the main event WWE Title scene. This way, Cena never had to job the US Title, and it makes him look like a threat standing up to Angle. This probably won't happen, but it's a thought. Next week, the show is built around Angle's GM position being in jeopardy. Cena is still pissed about being stripped of his title since he lost it for accidentally hitting a perfectly fine Angle. Now, the "board of directors" could just give Cena back his title, like I said before, or maybe they could claim that Angle's GM decision was final, and it can't be changed. So, as compensation, they offer Cena the No. 1 Contendership for the belt at Summerslam. Then, all the other SD mid-carders can fight over the US Title in a tournament or whatever. There are enough of them (Booker T, RVD, Dupree, Haas, Kenzo, Luther). As of right now, it doesn't make much sense for Taker to threaten Heyman last week, appear next week and win a title shot against JBL. You could just give JBL Heyman as a manager, but JBL doesn't need a manager, because he's capable of good promos already. I hate to think about it, but maybe they're actually heading towards Undertaker vs. Heidenreich at Summerslam. So here's what the card would look like... World Title Benoit vs. HHH WWE Title JBL vs. John Cena Kurt Angle vs. Eddie Guerrero Intercontinental Title: 4-Way Elimination Match Edge vs. Orton vs. Jericho vs. Batista Kane vs. HBK US Title Booker T vs. RVD or Haas Undertaker vs. John Heidenreich World Tag Titles La Resistance vs. Rhyno & Tajiri WWE Tag Titles Kidman & London vs. Dudleys Cruiserweight Title Rey Mysterio vs. Jamie Noble SD matches outnumber Raw matches, but I'd say there's already a good chance that the Cruiserweight Title and SD Tag Title matches don't make the final card. Last year's Summerslam was packed, leaving the same title matches off the show.

Bulldog & Owen vs. Austin & HBK (Raw, May 1997) TWGTT vs. Mysterio & Kidman (Vengeance 2003) Angle & Benoit vs. Los Guerreros (SD Tag Tournament Semi-Final, Oct. 2002) Angle & Benoit vs. Edge & Mysterio (No Mercy 2002) The Rockers vs. Orient Express (Royal Rumble 1991) Austin & HHH vs. Jericho & Benoit (Raw, May 2001) Bulldog & Owen vs. Furnas & LaFon (IYH: Final Four) Angle & Benoit vs. Edge & Mysterio, 2/3 Falls (Smackdown, Nov. 2002) TWGTT vs. Eddie Guerrero & Tajiri (Smackdown, May 2003, after Judgment Day) Quebecers vs. Bret & Owen Hart (Royal Rumble 1994) Randy Savage & Mr. Perfect vs. Flair & Razor Ramon (Survivor Series 1992)